Chapter 1
What Exactly Is Witchcraft? cross history, the Witch enchants us. Benevolent or wicked, youthful or haggard, man, woman, or someone (or something!) that defies such simple categorization, Witches have thrived throughout Western culture. They serve as both villains and heroes in favorite stories, as points of controversy and violence in history, and as inspiration in our personal spiritual explorations. We love them, we’re afraid of them, and, for an increasing many, we are them. Given that the Witch is such a complex figure, it’s no surprise that Witches generate so much confusion: What exactly makes someone a Witch? How does a person become one? Why would someone want to? What types of Witchcraft exist, and what makes them all distinct? What does a practice of Witchcraft actually require and entail? We humans love rules and categories. We feel compelled to sort and label things, and that leads to lots of absolute statements about what things are and how we should talk about them. If you just went by today’s internet hashtags, you might think a Witch is a young, hip woman (and only a woman) with an interest in tarot cards and a massive crystal collection. She does yoga, has a perfect manicure, and is very interested in holistic healing. Before that, back when I was first learning about Witchcraft in the nineties, Witchcraft and Wicca were used interchangeably. A cursory glance through books from that era reveals a Witch who adheres strictly to the rule of “harm none” and worships a triple goddess in the form of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. All gods and goddesses are really 9
